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So How Does a Little Girl Born In SF Chinatown Grow Up To Write #WhispersofRest?

By Bonnie Gray • June 2, 2017 • 9 Comments

So how does a little girl born among the steep hills of SF Chinatown, who grew up speaking Chinese first from her momma who didn’t speak English (I actually learned to speak English from Bert & Ernie, by watching Sesame Street before meeting my Kindergarten teacher Ms. Carol) – how does someone like me end up publishing a book that sits on the shelves at Barnes & Noble bookstore, waiting to be held in a reader’s hands to bring home, held and come alive in her heart as she turns the pages?!

It was only at 5 years old, I heard my first book read to me in English. I still remember it. Ms. Carol wore her hair in a soft 70s bob that curled up on the side, a smile that made the frost blue in her eye shadow shimmer, and a silky scarf tied to the side with a bow around her maroon ribbed turtle neck. She sat down in her chair in front of us while we all sat on the carpet criss-cross apple sauce.

As she opened the book that lay resting in her lap, I wondered how she could hold a picture book so big with one hand. And as she began to read the lines to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, the words floating across the page across beautiful illustrations of a painted night sky & stars in beautiful colors – the words seemed to welcome me.

And my heart was filled with something beautiful and something that has never left me to this day, as I read and as I write. I felt loved. I felt joy. I felt everything beautiful & bright.

As I stood there at B&N last Tuesday when my book released, after picking up the kids from school with my husband Eric, I cried finding Whispers of Rest in my hands, as I scanned the shelves for this book.

My little son Caleb pointed,”Look, Mom! Your book is now out in the world! People will read it & know how much God loves them!”

My son Josh said,”Your book is going to do great!”

And as husband Eric who has tirelessly loved me when I felt I had no voice, wrapped his arms around me to say, “It’s real.” – I closed my eyes and whispered, “Jesus, thank you.”

So, how does a little girl from SF Chinatown somehow find herself here with a book?

Like seeds giving life:

First. You. my sweet kindreds who read & support me. There would be no book without your gift of reading.

Two? Grace. God’s tender, faithful, irrevocable grace. Thank you Jesus. Thank you sweet friends. Your kinship means more to me than you may know.

Love, Bonnie

Whispers of Rest Free Book Club starts next Monday June 5th!

Sign up NOW to join the Free Book Club, friend!  We start Monday June 5th & I’m so excited to cheer you on & read Whispers of Rest together!  Let’s encourage each other!

Sign up to do this together by clicking here ?http://whispersofrest.com

This 6 Video Series is free! Share the news & Invite your friends and let’s spark some joy together! It’s going to be so fun!

?The happy news? The Book Club includes Bonus Gifts: Private Facebook Group, Journaling Art page, Coloring pages, Small Group Guide + more! Order now or buy at Barnes & Nobles or Lifeway Bookstores and download the bonus gifts ?

* If you order the book but it won’t arrive in time, no worries! I can give you first five digital chapters so you can read, as you wait for your book to arrive. Just email Micayla Brewster, who is helping with the Book Club, at micaylanicolebrewster@gmail.com

Just order the book & sign up here : https://thebonniegray.com/whispersofrest

Click below to watch this 1 min teaser book club invite.

 

6 Book Study Video Series

Six 10-min teaching videos, shot in beautiful nature landscapes: ocean, creek, redwood trees, meadows and mountains. Includes Scripture reflection time with music.

This powerful Video Series explores 6 themes in Whispers of Rest:

1) Being the Beloved: Embrace Your True Identity
2) Choosing as the Beloved: Reclaim Your Self-Worth
3) Dreaming as the Beloved: Reignite Your Passion
4) Healing as the Beloved: Deepen Intimacy with Jesus
5) Daring as the Beloved: Being Known in Community
6) Shining as the Beloved: Celebrate Your Calling

And special thanks goes to my kind and amazing agent Chip MacGregor for believing in the vision, whose passion for books and the craft of publishing them well has been my good. And to FaithWords for the heart and work of publishing the vision.
__
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When you look back on your story as a little girl, how did you gain a love for reading?
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9 Comments

  • Reply NancyB June 2, 2017 at 6:53 am

    Bonnie, Your words have touched me. Each evening I read a new devotional and look up different versions of the Bible texts in your devotional. Sometimes I draw a picture or sometimes I underline the words or sometimes I sit listening for God to talk to me.
    You are a true inspirational author. Your picture of your family is so cute! You all should definitely be proud!
    Blessings on your continued ministry .
    Look forward to the Bible study!

  • Reply Rebecca L Jones June 2, 2017 at 7:31 am

    I am thrilled for you and I love your son’s expression. Thank you for following God’s voice and helping others to dream as the beloved.

  • Reply Rebecca Tellez June 2, 2017 at 7:42 am

    Bonnie, you have been given a beautiful gift of words and I am so glad you share it with us. My home growing up was not a safe place and my escape was books. I lived in a small town and I could go to the library, which was a small little on room house, and hide between the shelves sitting on the floor and get lost in the pages I found there.
    Looking forward to the book club.

  • Reply Diane June 2, 2017 at 10:41 am

    I grew up on a small rural dairy where my companions were my two brothers. I was a tomboy and the oldest so they followed me and did everything I did! And I did everything from climbing trees, wading creeks, burrowing through hay bales in the barn, and herding cows while riding bareback on my cousin’s horse! As adventurous as all this was, my love for books and reading began in the creaky old library where I attended school. I loved the smell of the books, the hissing of the radiator in winter, and the quiet!

    During the summer we had a bookmobile that traveled around the county so that children like me, with no way to get to the city library, could have the opportunity to check out and read books. I lost and found myself in books and traveled the world, (well, almost)! I had discovered Walter Farley’s series of books about the Black Stallion, and I believe I had read every single one of them before fifth grade! That was well before a movie based on the book was released in the 1970s!

    I’m happy that loving to read was a huge part of my childhood, and continues to be a source of comfort to me even more so now! I look forward to participating in the group while reading my copy of your new book! Congratulations, Bonnie! God bless you and your sweet family!

  • Reply Nancy Ruegg June 2, 2017 at 2:27 pm

    Congratulations, Bonnie! You did it! I love the way you are giving GOD the glory, however, extolling him for his grace that made your book possible. With Josh, I say, “Your book is going to do great!”

  • Reply Lynnette June 2, 2017 at 5:48 pm

    Started your book. You are amazing! Loved your first book and can’t wait to start your Bible study. Thank you for allowing God to change my life because you share yourself so completely! God bless you!!!

    • Reply Bonnie Gray July 10, 2017 at 4:43 pm

      thanks lynnette for the honor of reading #WhispersofRest! Because book #1 changed my life and now book #2 is changing my life again – I just want to share what has blessed me in passionate heart and prayers that it would touch yours too! what do you think of #WhispersofRest so far? 🙂 it’s so special to know you’re been there from book #1 journey, so you know how much this means to me..

  • Reply Penny June 2, 2017 at 9:34 pm

    Bonnie,,
    I’ve always been touched by your beautifully written words, and I wanted to congratulate you on the release of your new book. Well done, I hope that all goes well.

    Blessings to you, and your family ( they must be very proud)

    • Reply Bonnie Gray July 10, 2017 at 4:44 pm

      dear Penny, thank you so much for your sweet wishes!! i’m so blessed to have the opportunity to share the #WhispersofRest that God has touched my life with — and it gives me joy if I can have a part in sharing those blessings with you through my writing! I hope yo’uve had a wnoderful summer! I’ve been busy in the private FB group leading the online book club – but I wanted to circle back and say thank you for your kind blessings! love, bonnie

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Bonnie Gray

“Bonnie has often led the way to freedom and truth by going there first herself. Her ability to invite us in as readers into our own stories only makes this world a better, more healed place.” 

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